By Rita Amoroso, Contributing Writer
As of Nov. 2022, around three million Native Americans are living in the United States, according to the United States Census Bureau. To honor their culture and lifestyle, George H. W. Bush declared November to be the National American Indian Heritage Month. Since this initiative in Aug.1990, Native American heritage has evolved in various ways.
From performance arts to literature, indigenous culture has inspired all forms of expression. In order to protect and honor Native American heritage, there are various resources available. For instance, learning about Native American populations is a free way to honor them.
In addition to that, supporting indigenous populations can look like purchasing artwork and goods from native-owned companies. A good website for finding native-owned companies is http://www.beyondbuckskin.com/p/buy-native.html.
Another way of supporting Native American heritage is to visit their natural parks and engage in educational opportunities. According to the National Conference of State Legislature, the state of Florida has two main Native American recognizable tribes. The first one is the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians and the other one is the Seminole Tribe of Florida.
You can support indigenous people in Florida by visiting the Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Museum as well as Sacred Lands in St Petersburg, FL. All the locations mentioned above are open and welcome all visitors to honor Native American history.
As a community, honoring Native American heritage is all about listening. Aboriginal issues are real hardships that Native American people experience. Listening to their propositions and validating their voices is essential to a caring society.
Learning about Native American heritage is also being educated about your surroundings. For example, research and study your land. Where your home is built was most likely a previous Native land- including the land surrounding Saint Leo University.
Overall, the month of November is a time where Native American culture is celebrated. Native American heritage is the culture and traditions of the Native Indian population. Their heritage encloses their achievements as well as their history. Whether it is Native Hawaiians, Arctic Indians, or American Indians, it is impactful to protect critical history places and build a future for nature to thrive.
